Sunday, September 30, 2012

Just popping in to share another piece of my autumn decor, a dictionary page wreath that I made two years ago. I ripped pages out of a worn paperback dictionary that I used in high school and college. The pages had yellowed and were perfect for the project.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Week Three challenge at Project Run & Play is to design an outfit using a white bed sheet as the primary source of your material. I wish I had not been so crunched for time this past week because I love the challenge of creating something from a blank slate. Because I could not devote much time to this project, I decided to make a simple dress and use the opportunity to experiment further with dip dying. In fact, my first experiment with dip dying was for the Color Challenge last season at Project Run and Play when I made an ombré handkerchief top.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

I decorated my mantel this past weekend, just in time for the first day of autumn. This year's theme is pumpkins and gourds, with a color palette of browns and greens, and touches of orange, yellow and white. I combined both crafted decor and natural elements, including pinecones, acorns, leaves, and dried hydrangea blooms.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

With two young children, I have tons of decorating ideas that will stay on the back-burner for several more years. Up until recently, I could not keep anything fragile within five feet of the floor. My older daughter was never a problem, but Miss Imp (as her name implies) is very inquisitive and loves to take things apart. An example......this past spring I planted a lovely display of succulents in teacups. One day I walked into the living room and found all the succulent "leaves" plucked and replanted in the Christmas Cactus pot! She was very proud of her little "garden" and even though I was annoyed, I could never punish her for being curious.

Planning my fall decor, I wanted to include items in the accessible areas of the living room that were both inexpensive and safe for the girls to play with. Plastic scarecrows and foam pumpkins may fit the bill, but are definitely not my style. Instead I decided to decorate with natural elements, which in addition to being free, also engage the girls' eagerness to learn!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Would you believe these were once dollar store foam pumpkins? Last night while making dinner, I glanced over at the pile of cornhusks in our compost pail and was struck by inspiration. I laid the husks flat on paper towel to dry overnight, and got to work decorating my pumpkins this morning.

Monday, September 17, 2012

It's Week Two at Project Run & Play, and this week's challenge is to design an outfit inspired by a famous or favorite fashion icon. Considering I can only name three fashion designers off the top of my head, I thought about sitting out this week. That is until I discovered an awesome piece of planet and nebula fabric while digging through the remnant bin at Joann's. My inner geek is crushing over the recent trend in galaxy print dresses and skirts, most notably the Brightness Dawn Collection by Setareh Mohtarez. After visiting another store to purchase more fabric, I launched (hee hee) into creating my galaxy bubble dress!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Project Run & Play Season 5 has begun and I am again participating in the sew along group! The Week 1 Challenge is a remix of Katy's (of No Big Dill) A Very Biased Skirt pattern. It's a gorgeous skirt with layer after layer of bias cut fabric strips sewn around. I present my remix design.....Neon Sophisticate.

Saturday, September 08, 2012

On a recent trip to the dollar store, I came across some faux fall leaves. I picked up a couple packages thinking I would make a garland. By the time I got home I had an even better idea, a simple piece of mixed media art depicting autumn leaves falling and settling into a pile at the base of a tree.

I've pinned many elegant, clever, and cute autumn wreaths that I would love to recreate, but alas it will never happen. You see, my front door is completely exposed to the elements. Beautiful silk flowers and faux berries, forget about it, they will disintegrate in the rain. Gorgeous glittered fall themed wired ribbons, no way, they will rust or fade within a week. Elaborately decorated wreaths held together with hot glue, not a prayer in the blazing morning sun. Yes, I have to get really creative to come up with wreaths that can withstand the crazy St. Louis weather!

So this past week I brainstormed. Do you remember my Wood Shim Crates? After making my husband cut seventy-two wood shims by hand, I had thought it best to keep the scraps for a future project. I saw them and thought, wood can handle the weather, especially if it is intended to look "weathered ", and my autumn wreath was born!

Hi, I'm Kirstin. Welcome to Craftiments, a creative DIY blog about my experiments in sewing and crafts. I can't wait to hear from you! You may send your questions and comments to kirstin {at} craftiments {dot} com.